So Jotham became mighty: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered So is rightly left untranslated by Good News Translation and most other English versions. Jotham became mighty refers to his established position as a king and not to his own physical strength.

Because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God: Jotham’s political strength came as a direct result of his faithful following of Yahweh. He ordered his ways may be translated “he kept an unswerving course” (New Jerusalem Bible), “he maintained a steady course of obedience” (Revised English Bible), or “he determined to walk obediently” (Dillard). Good News Translation provides a nonfigurative model, saying “he faithfully obeyed.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .